Building Code Violations - 2010 Legislative Program

Initiate legislation to provide that criminal fines imposed by the
General District Court for Building Code violations prosecuted by the
local building department be remitted to the locality. Currently,
such fines are remitted to the Commonwealth, even though the Virginia
Code provides that Building Code requirements governing construction and
rehabilitation are the responsibility of the local building
department.

Initiate legislation that would authorize the General District Court to
require abatement of all Building Code violations on nonresidential
properties where the violation remains uncorrected at the time the court
assesses civil penalties. Under current law, if a Building Code
violation concerning a residential unit remains uncorrected by the time a
civil penalty case reaches the court, the court is required to order the
violation to be abated or otherwise remedied, as part of the court’s
assessment of a civil penalty.